Agitating, etc., machine



' March 25, 1.930,. H RoBlNsoN A 1,752,202

AC'ITATING, ETC MACHINE Filed Aug'. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l atto: ne@ u March 25, 1930. v `H. RQBINSON 1,752,202

AGITATING,ETC )MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1929 4 sheets-sheet 2 (gn/vento,

Filed Aug. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet gnocnffo/c,

March Z5, 1930. H. ROBINSON AGITATINGlETC, ,MACHINE Filed Aug. 2l, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 25, 1930 Parent orties HENRY ROBINSON, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

AGITATING, ETC., MACHINE Application mea August 21, 1929. semi No. 387,472.

My invention relates specifically .to the class of 'machinery in Which a mass, at least several layers deep, of various substances, are enclosed in a container for agitation by mechanical means, for either the thorough mixing of substances such as glucose and proteins, for the removal of dirt by Washing and agitation from fruits and leafy vegetables or for uniformly abrading the jackets or skins of tuber vegetables. The invention resides in the improved mechanical means for more efiiciently accomplishing the ends mentioned With less Waste of material in abrading, With greater compactness, econ,- omy of space and in less time.

The improved mechanism I employ to accomplish the stated purposes or objects, produces sufficient centrifugal and centripetal motion upon the entire mass of material to be mechanically Worked on in the container of the machine,"either for mixing, Washing or abrading in a satisfactory mannerin the most circumscribed space and in the least time, and Which container hasa door adaptr ed to be opened so that the contents will be immediately, completely and automatically ejected lby centrifugal force to an outside receptacle, and on the closing of Which door, the container will be ready for another operation.

In connection with my prior inventions, as exemplified in United States Patents Number 809,582 issued January 9, 19,06, and 942,- 932 issued December 14, 1909, in particular, I aimed to accomplish with the means disclosed therein, the same stated purposes and objectives as in this present invention, but only succeeded to the relatively limited extent of producing a practically satisfactory commercial machine for paring tuber vegetables by the use of a revolvingV disk With raised or scoop-shaped humps thereonthat produce at a comparatively high speed .of operation, sufficient centrifugal and centripetal force as to impart the necessary motion to such compact solid bodies to effect substantially uniform abrasive action and avoid such gravity pressure or Weight onthe superposed layers of the vegetables in the'container as arrests and checks the'forces and movements, to a more or less extent Which in that construction results in excessive friction and Waste on the lovvermost or bottom layers of the vegetables, especially those Which are caught in the apex of the angle forming the circumference or periphery of the revolving bottom disk and the contiguous upright inner sides of the containing cylinder and Which areground to various degrees of flatness, if not entirely ground and Wasted especially in the case of smaller ones. This oft occurrinof condition is commonly termed overloadingl the machine due to the ignorance or careless-` ness of the operator and it results in a considerable loss or Waste of vegetables.

As to the second object of my present invention, in the Washing and cleaning of adheringydirt from fruits'and leafy vegetables, especially spinach, cabbage, kale and the like, my previous mechanical contrivances as illustrated in the aforesaid patents, Were entirely inoperative When the containing cylinder Was filled or even half filled therewith, because the revolving bottom disk with the humps, did not impart any motion or agitation for the uniform cleaning and Washing of the same.

lVhile, as stated, the general aims or obj jects of my present invention are identical With those in my prior inventions of the patents aforesaid, the present mechanical means I employ to accomplish the same, are entirely and radically different and of such improved construction as to be positive in action Whether operating on solid or compact material such as fruit, tuber vegetables or leafy vegetables, to always impart the same uniform movement of agitation and on the 4conclusion of the operation, effect complete n ejection of the mass from the container, irrespectiveof the depth, bulk or Weight of the material Worked on, at highest efficiency and with a minimum Waste of material, space and time.

I have also found in connection with the present invention, that by substituting a solid instead of a perforated disk or plate, the samesimple mechanism produces desirable and satisfactory results in the thorough mixing of liquid, semi-liquid, and doughy subp chines at present in use.

A ci

Having thus stated the obiects or aims of the present invention, l will now proceed to describe, in detail, by way'of example, constructions which may carryV the same into eect, and also describe the operation thereof.

In accompanying drawings illustrating the invention Figure 1 is a view of preferred form, half in front elevation and half i central vertical section; V

Figure la is a section taken on line 1 12L of Figure 1; Y

Figure 2 is lan inverted plan view of the stationary disk or tray;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top view of the upper edge portion'of the base or bowl;

Figure 4 is a plan view of one form of tating or abrading element; K Figures 5 and 6, respectively, are detail cross sectional views taken on the lines 5 5 and 6 6 of yFigure L1;

Figure 7 is an edge view of the agitating element of Figure llooking toward the/same from the lower edge of Figure l,

, Figure 8 is a plan view of a modified form of agitator or abrader;

Figures 9 and 10, respectively, are cross sectional details taken on the lines 9 9 and 10 1O of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a plan view of another modiY- fied form of'abrader or agitator;

. Figure 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 12 12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a plan view of the agitator as shown in Figure Ll, suggesting its use without an abradant surface;

Figure 111 isa detail vertical sectional View through the device when used primarily as a mixing or kneading machine; and

Figure is a plan view of a furthermodified form of agitator.

Referring speciiically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts, one preferred construction is illustrated in Figures 1 `to 7, the complete assembly being shown, primarlly, in F lgure 1. VInsuchconstruction, 10

agi-

' designatesa base or bowl which is preferably made in afsingle metallic casting and has an upstanding marginal wall 11 and Vavcentral hollow bearing .12 terminating below the upper edge of said wall. Legs 13 may support the bowl.

At suitableintervals, the wall 11 along its inner surface, and below the top, has integral open socket members 14rwhose cavities are ydesignated 15 (Figures 1 and 3). A cylinder or chamber member 16 removably surmounts the wall 11 and isV also preferably a single metallic casting. The cylinder 16 forms a chamber to accommodate vegetables or the various other materials which may be agitated and washed, or agitated, pared and washed, or mixed or kneaded, according to the specific purposes for which the machine is constructed. ln the preferred form of the machine, thel interior surface of the cylinder throughout, as at is rendered rough or abradant as by permanently applying carboroundum or the like thereto. Said cylinder V16 may be thickened at its lower edge so as to provide a shoulder 17 which rests on the wall 11, an annular depending flange 18 inwardly thereof and telescoping into bowl 10, and ashoulder 19in line with shoulder'l? on the opposite side of flange 18.V A removable cover 20 rests on cylinder 1,6 while a discharge opening and conventional closure door are provided for the cylinder at 21.

A vertical operating shaft or spindle 22 Yis journaled in bearing 12 (otherwise'mounted and driven as hereinafter described) 'which entends above said bearing 12, through an opening in a stationaryY foraminous or solid disk or tray 23, andinto a hub 24: of an agil tating element 25 which also serves-as kthe paring member inthe present typeJ of machine, and the constructionof which member or elementr25 lforms abasic part of. my in# vention. A set-screw 26 is one means whereby the elen'ien't25 may be secured vto the shaft 22.

Said disk or tray 23 is removable 'and'is of a diameter in the present type of machine, where it is marginally spaced from the inner wall of the chamber as shown in Figure `1 so that the water and washingsfmayoverilow the same. 1nk some instances, however, as hereinafter disclosed, saiddisk or vrtray 23 may be solid'andof the same diameter as the internal diameter of the bowl 10. In order to mount the disk or tray 23 against rotal VAim) prise a plate portion and .a centripetal Plate 30, at one portion thereof, is higher than the remainder and at the `rZone indicated at B, has an abradant surface similar tothe Y.

previously mentioned surface A of the cylinder. 'Such highestporti'on may be `aridge 32radiating from the center ofthe agitator or parer 25 and the plate may gradually slope or curve. downwardly from the ridge 32 to the side edges of the plate. Through the rota- I tion of the agitator or parer, it imparts centhough such feature may be optionally employed. The vegetables falling from such inner surface of the cylinder, are caught or engaged by the centripetally impulsive projection 31 which is generally hook-shaped and extends downwardly and forwardly in the direction of rotation, suchy direction being indicated by the arrow in Figure 4.

The highest point kof projection 31 is higher than the ridge 32 and the upper edge of such projection entends downwardly from the highestpoint toward the center of the agitator or parer whereby the projection is relatively thin or lower than its proximal and distal ends as at 33. Said portion 33 is relatively narrow so as not to interfere with the turning or agitation of the material engaged thereby. As a result, when the vegetables are engaged projection 31, they are given a positive mechanical centripetal impulse orV motion which causes them to` travel from said projection across portion 33 into disk 23 from which they are scoopedl up by the plate 30. As a result of continuous rotation of the parer or abrader for a predetermined length of time, a mass of potatoes, other vegetables or materials within the cylinder, are constantly moved downwardly, by gravity, centrifugally, centripetally and upwardly, the -elements of the mass constantly interplaying through mechanical force and the skinsbeing removed by attrition or peckingk action lof the abrading surfaces A and C, alone, or aided by surface B, if employed. y

Simultaneously with the `operation ofthe agitator, water continuously flows from any desired source through a nozzle 34 under control of a valve 35 into cylinder 16, thus constantly cleansingor flushing the potatoes or materials so that the removed skins will be flushed by the water over the edge of the disk or tray 23 and when the tray is perforated, as iny Figure 1, also drawn by the waterthrough the perforations thereof, into the bowl 10 and discharged from the latter as through a wastepipe 36 coupled thereto.

After such operation, the door 17 is opened, as a result of which, the agitator or parer 25 discharges the potatoes or materials through the doorway controlled by said door, through centrifugal force, appropriate means being provided lto catchor receive the potatoes or materials.

While any suitable means may be usedto drive the operating shaft or spindle 22', I have shown and will now describe one form thereof, by way of example. A housing 36 is boltedat 37 to the under surface of Lbowl 10 which has a socket bearing 38 journaling the lower end of said shaft 22. Between the bearings 124 andy 38, a worm wheel 39 is keyed to yshaft 22, the same abutting the former bearing and resting on a ball bearing device 4()y supported on the bearing 38. A horizontal shaft` 41 is journaled in bearings 42 on housing 36 and has a worm 43 keyed thereon which meshes with wheel 39. An L-shaped bearing 44 is fastenedto bowl 10 and journals 'shaft 41 and an inclined upstanding shaft 42 which drives the former through the medium of intermeshing bevel gear wheels 45 and 46. A bevel gear wheel 47 is keyed to the top of shaft 42 and meshes with a bevel gear 48 on the main shaft 49 of an electric motor 50. Saidmotor 50 may be mounted on a flange 51 of a bearing 52 surrounding a post or yrod 56 having apedestal 53 to rest on or be secured to the iioor or same support as the legs 13, and which may also be fastened by a bracket 54 to bowl 10. 0n bracket 51, a bearing 55 is provided for shaft 42. An arm 57 is integral with bearing 52 and is clamped by a bolt 58 to an arm 59 integral with cylinder 16. Such structure thusholds the cylinder 16 immovably in place as well as forms a bearing for the motor support 52, preventing vibration. c

modified form of the agitator 25 is disclosed in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the same difering from the previous form only with respect to a raised portion or ridge 32 which is provided on a plate portion 30 equivalent to that at 36. The rib 32 instead of extending diamctrically, extends from one end of the plate and curves inwardly on a line between the periphery and center of the disk.

The `plates 30 and 30 in the forms of agitators described, respectively, optionally have upwardlyextending marginal flanges `30d and. 309. 1 p Another modlied form of agitator or similar member to be used, if desired, in place ol those at 25 and 25, is shown atl-25 in docs vnot employ a flange equivalent to 30d or 30e of the previous forms.

As before set, forth, the agitator or equivalent inemb-erssuch as 25, 25 and 25 may have their surfaces entirely smooth and thus devoid of. abradant material aswhen the type of machine employed is yfor the purpose of washing leafy vegetables, or mixing of lineading substances or materials, andan ex- ;,ample of such a smooth agitating member is given in Figure 13, the same reference characters asin theform of Figures lto 7 being used, since merely the abrading surface or surfaces, and their corresponding function, are omitted. Y

Also in cases where the machine is built to mix or knead materials, water is not continuously suppliedto the chamber or cylinder of the machine, although the same may be periodically added or supplied, if desired, all parts of the machine are devoid of abradant material. This feature is exemplified in Figure lll. In this form of mixer or kneader, the disk or tray is imperforate and there is vno leakage around its periphery because the disk or tray is of greater diameter than in the previous forms and is overlapped by a shoulder i9 on the cylinder. Otherwise, the saine reference characters as applied in the foi-in of Figures l toT, have Vbeen used.

ln Figure l5, another modified form of agitator or the like is shown, differing from the previous forms in that it employs a plurality of centripetally acting impulse projections at GO and (il, branching from the same shank -wliich is formed integrally with a plate 63. The projections 60 and 6l are identical in construction with those at 3l and the plate 63 is identical with that at 30 and it may optionally employ or be devoid of Yabraflaiit material applied as at B .in Figui-e l. Such an agitator or similar means as shown in Figure l5 is useful where the machine may have an intermittent rotating action or may be adapted, at times, to rotate in opposite directions. The upper edges of projections G0 and Gl are connected by an integral web 6ft which preventsl material from falling between them.

Since the forms illustrated and described y are simply examples ofthe application and practice of my invention, it is to be understood that various additional changes may be resorted to within the spirit and scope asl defined by appended claims.

I claim as my invention: Y 1 A machine of the class described having a centripetally impulsive agitating means Vhaving an arm-like projection on one side of having `a curved arm-like projection on one avisame side of its axis, said projection extending-generally radially and laterally, said projection being laterally dished and adjacent its outer end having a `portion higher than the part thereof between the same and said axis, said part being relatively narrow whereby it does not alect'the motion of material during agi tation, substantially as described.

3. A machine of the class described having a centripetally Aimpulsive agitating means having a curved arm-like projection on one side of its axis, said projection slanting downwardly and forwardly at the materialengaging surface, the slant of said surface increasing in abruptness from the free end toward the axis of saidmcans, and said projection adjacent its outer end having a portion high-V er than the part between said portion and said axis, said part being relatively narrow whereby it does not affect the motion of inaterial during agitation.

4. A machine cf the class described having a centripetally impulsive agitating means having an arm-like yprojection on one side of its axis, said projection adjacent its outer end having a portion higher than the part thereof between the same and said axis, said part being relatively narrow whereby it does not affect the motion of material during agitation, and a segmental extension on the opposite side of said axis spaced at its sides from said projection, substantially as described.

5. A machine of the. class described having a centripetally impulsive agitating means rhaving an arm-like projection on one side ofits axis, said projection extending generally radially and laterally, and being laterallyV dislied and; adjacent its outer end having'V a portion higher than the partthereof between the same and said axis, said part being relatively narrow whereby it dees notV affect the motion of material during agitation, a segmental extension spaced at its lsides from said projection and being disposedV on the opposite side of said axis having a portion between the periphery and axis higher'than the remainder thereof, substantially as described.

6. A machine of the classdescribed having a centripetally impulsive agiteuting means having an arm-like projection on one side of its axis, a hub integral with said projection, said proj ecticn adjacent its outer end having a portion higher than the part thereof between the same and said axis, said projection extending generally radially and laterally and having its forward surface slanting downwardly and forwardly, said part being relatively-narrow whereby it does not affect the motion of material during agitation, a segmental extensionl on the opposite side of said axis integral with said hub and having a portion between the periphery and axis higher than the remainder thereof, said proj ect-ion and extension being of the same radial extent from said axis, substantially as -described.

7 A machine of the class described havin a cylinder provided with a lateral discharge opening, rotatable means in said cylinder adjacent the base. thereof, a centripetally impulsive agitating device carried by said means, and a centrifugally impulsive agitating device spaced atits sides from the first mentioned device and carried by said means and located on a different side of the axis of said means from the first mentioned device, both of said devices having the same radial extent from said axis, and means beneath and relatively close to the first mentioned means to support material between said devices during agitation, substantially as described.

8. A machine of the class described having rotatable means, a centripetally impulsive agitating device carried by said means, and a centrifugally impulsive agitating device spaced at its sides from the first mentioned device and carried by said means and located on a different side of the axis of said means from the first mentioned device, and means beneath and relatively close to the first mentioned lmeans to support material between said devices during agitation, the centrifugally operating device having a portion higher than the remainder thereof located between its periphery and axis, said remainder being relatively narrow whereby it does not adect the motion of material during agitation, substantially as described.

9. A machine of the class described having means providing a chamber with a lateral discharge opening, a rotatable device therein adjacent the base thereof for engagement with the contents, said device having an extension on one side of its axis to centrifugally engage the contents, and an arm-like extension on the other side of the axis to centripetally engage said contents, said device and extension being of substantially the same radial extent, and means relatively close to the rst mentioned means .to support saidcontents in the spaces between the first extension andthe arm-like extensiomsubstantially as described. f

10. A machine of the class ydescribed having means providing an agitating chamber provided with a lateral discharge opening, a relativelystationary disk therein adjacent the base thereof to support material during agitation, and an agitator device of skeleton form in said chamber abovethe disk to centrifugally and centripetally vmove the contents and discharge the same when said opening is exposed, substantially as described.

11. A machine of the class described having a chamber means provided with a lateral discharge opening, a relatively stationary disk removably mounted therein adjacent the base, a rotatable shaft extending above said disk, and an agitator device carried by said shaft above and relatively close to said disk to centrifugally andV centripetally move the contents and discharge the same when said 'opening is exposed, substantially asfdesaid disk, an agitator carried by the shaft above and relatively close to said element comprising a substantially segmental extensionto centrifugally move material, andan arm-like extension spaced at its sides from said first extension to centripetally move material, .said arm-like'extension extending generally radially and laterally and being laterally dished and having a relatively low A portion inwardly of its free end, said low portion being relatively narrow whereby it does not affect the motion of material during agitation, substantially as described.

13. A machine of the class described havin a base'having sockets on the interior thereof below its upper edge, a bearing on the base terminating short of the top thereof, a disk member to support material being agitated, said disk member resting on said bearing and having lugs engaging said sockets, a cylinder resting on the upper edge of said base having a portion telescoping with said base, an agitating member operating above and relatively close to the disk, and an operating shaft for said agitating member journaled in said bearing and extending through the disk, substantially as described.`

14:. A machine of the class described having a chamber provided with a lateral dis-` charge opening, a rotatable device 'therein adjacent the base thereof for engagement with the contents said device havin@` an extension on one side of its axis to centrifugally engage vthe contents, and an arm-like extension on Y the other sideof the axis to centripetally engage said contents, and means relatively close to the first mentioned means to support said contents in the spaces between thetirst extension and the arm-like extension, the last mentioned means being elevated with respect to i the base of the chamber and indraining relation to the chamber.

ing a chamber provided with a lateral discharge opening, a rotatable device therein n 15. The subject matter of claim liwherey adjacent the base thereof forl engagement with the contents, said device having an extension on one side of its axis to centrifugally engage the contents, an arm-like extension 0n the other side of the axis to centripetally engage said contents, said extension extending generally radially and laterally and being laterally dished, said extension having a part relatively narrow and 10W between its outer end and said axis so as not to affect the niotion of material during agitation, and per- :Eorated means relatively close toV the ret mentioned means to also support the contents.

17. The subject matter of Claim 16 Wherein the proj ect-ion is similarly shaped on opposite sides of a radial line so that the agitating means may be operated in either direction.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my,

signature.

HENRY ROBINSON. 

